Art of making phonographic cylinders.



No. 672,909. PatentedApr. 30, 190i. M. C. LEFFERTS.

ART OF IiAKING PHONOGRAPHIC CYLINDERS.

(Application filed Oct. 18, 1900,) m

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WITNESS ESI I I Q INVENTOR 7 /1 ATTORNEY 11-1: Nonms PETERS co..PHDTQLITNQ. wAsumc-Tom o, c.

. UNITED STATES Application filed October 18, 1900.

3T0 all whom it 11mg concern:

Be.it known that L-MARSHALL 0. LEE- .FERTS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing inthe city, county, and State of New York, s ha'veinvented a new and useful Improve- "ment in the Art of MakingPhonographic Cylinders Composed of Celluloid and Simijlar 'PyroxylinCompounds, of which the foltlow ing is a specification. oilllhisiinvention relates to the process of -;making phonographiccylinders having the sou-nderecord on their exterior surfaces by meansofa:suitable matrix consisting of a '1 :copperelectroplate orothersuitable material.

:15 Heretofor'e in molding 'phonographic cylinders from the matrix suchcylinders have i :beenfoundtobeimperfect, owing to the pres- 1 -ence ofaircontained between those surfaces V of the matrix and'the cylinderwhich are in contact during. the process of molding; and 7 my inventionis designed to obviate this de- 1 .fect, as well as to produce a speedy,efficient,

"ande'conomical method of molding such cylinders. j v ff 2 5.; Theapparatus which I employ in practic- '{i .inginynewprocessis illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which. t Figure-l is a perspective viewof the ma- ,trix and-cylinder, with their inclosing jacket ,inplace,previous to their subjection to the -molding pressure. Fig. 2 is asectional view Qof Fig; 1 showing the addition of an airpump or otherexhausting instrument; and -Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing amodified5 form of the matrix and cylinder.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout theseveral views.

In practicing my process I first make a matrix in copper byelectroplating upon the 40 original wax record in the manner now wellunderstood. Any suitable metal may be used for this matrix. By thismeans I obtain a matrix which has the sound-record in reverse on itsinterior surface. In the next step of 5 my process I insert within thismatrix a cylinder of celluloid, or similar pyroxylin compound, having anoutside diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of thematrix. I next pass through the interior $0 of the celluloid cylinderlying within the matrix a tube of thin soft vulcanized rubber PATENTOFFICE.

: LMARsHALL c. LEFFERTS, on NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORYTO THE CELLU- LOIDCOMPANY, OF SAME PLAoE.

ART OF MAKING PH ON OGRAPHIC CYLINDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 672,909, dated April30, 1901.

Serial No. 33,427. (No specimens.)

about three times as long as the matrix, and turn the rubber tube overon itself so as to bring it around the outside of the matrix, thuscompletelyinclosing the celluloid cylinder and the matrix and leavingthe two ends of the rubber tube projecting at one end. I then insert aplug within the ends of the rubber tube, and then adjust the ends of therubber over the plug. I then place a clamp over the plug and ends of therubber tube and clamp the latter tightly upon the former, so as to forman air-tight joint. The plug contains apipe fitted with a cock, thispipe leading from the outer air to the interior of the inclosing rubbertube. This stage of my process is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of thedrawings, in which A represents the matrix. B is the celluloid cylinder.C is the inclosing rubber tube. D is the plug containing the pipe 19,having the cock 0, and E is the clamp, having the tightening-screw s. Inthe next step of my process I connect the outer end of the pipe 10 by aflexible tube 25 or other suitable means with an air-pump P (illustratedin Figs. 2 and 3) or other suitable exhaust and exhaust the air frombetween the sides of the inclosing rubber tube, thus vessel containingsteam under pressure. The

heat of the steam softens the celluloid cylinder and the pressure on theexterior of the rubber jacket forces the juxtaposed surfaces of thesoftened celluloid cylinder and the matrix into close contact, thusreproducing in relief upon the celluloid cylinder the so undrecordcontained in reverse upon the surface of the matrix. A cooling medium isthen introduced into the gun under pressure greater 5 than that of thesteam, so as to displace the steam and cool the celluloid cylinder whilestill under pressure. When the cylinder is cooled and set, the jacketedcylinder and matrix are withdrawn from the steam-cham- Ioo her. Therubber jacket is then removed and the celluloid cylinder can beseparated readily from the matrix by the insertion of a knife betweenthe two, so as to admit air. In many cases the use of the knife will notbe necessary, as the contraction of the celluloid itself will besufificient to admit air between the opposing surfaces.

I do not limit myself to the use of steam in the above operation, asheated air u nder pressure or hot water under pressure or any heatedfluid under pressure would answer the pur;- pose, nor is it necessarythat the fluid itself should be heated, as the celluloid cylinder may besoftened by a suitable solvent, such as amyl acetate, applied to thesurface thereof prior to the subjection of the jacketed matrix andcelluloid cylinder to the pressure of the fluid under pressure. Iprefer, however, the use of steam as being more convenient and alsoprefer to partially soften the surface of the celluloid by the use of asolvent in addition to the use of heat, for I find that the solvent hasa beneficial effect in causing the celluloid to [low more evenly underthe influence of heat and pressure.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a slight modification of the shape of the matrixand celluloid cylinder. As the phonographic instruments are made of astandard size and fitted for wax cylinders of a uniform diameter, andmany of these instruments are now in use, and it is desirable that theycan be used both with the standard wax cylinders now in general use aswell as the celluloid cylinders, and as the celluloid cylinders can beeconomically made thinner and with a considerably larger interiordiameter than the wax cylinders, owing to the nature of the material, itis necessary to so construct the celluloid cylinders that they will fiton the mandrel of the machine which is suited to the size of theordinary wax cylinders, and my modification is designed to effect thisobject. In Fig. 3 the copper matrix A is shown as made with a permanentfiangef upon it, projecting into the interior of the matrix, theinterior diameter-of this flange being about the size requisite to fitupon the mandrel of the machine. After the matrix and inner celluloidcylinder have been placed within the jacket D a removable flange f isscrewed upon or otherwise suitably fastened to the other end of thematrix A, and during the molding operation, of course, the celluloidcylinder B will take the shape of this shaped matrix A, and thus fitupon the mandrel of the machine.

I do not limit myself to the particular mode of constructing the jacketby means of a rubber tube as herein described nor to the use of rubbersolely, for any suitable material will do and any mode of constructingthe jacket which incloses the matrix and celluloid cylinder in acollapsible chamber from which the air can be exhausted may be adopted,nor do I confine myself to the use of a fluid-pressure to press thesurfaces of the matrix and celluloid cylinder into contact, for, ifdesired, mechanical pressure, such as an expansible mandrel, may beemployed for this purpose.

Where I have used the word celluloid in this specification and theclaims, I refer to pyroxylin compounds similar to celluloid, which isthe trade-name of the best of these compounds.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The improvementin the art of making phonographic sound records composed of celluloidand similar pyroxylin compounds, which consists in the following steps:first, placing a celluloid cylinder within a matrix having asound-record on the interior surface thereof; second, placing saidmatrix and cylinder within a collapsible chamber, and exhausting the airfrom said chamber; third, subjecting the said jacketed matrix andcylinder to heat and pressure; fourth, cooling said matrix and cylinder,and separating the one from the other, substantially as described.

2. The improvement in the art of making phonographic sound recordscomposed of celluloid and pounds which consists in the following steps:first, placing a celluloid cylinder within a matrix having asound-record on the interior similar pyroxylin comsurface thereof;second, placing said matrix and cylinder within a collapsible chamber,and exhausting the air from said chamber;

third, subjecting said jacketed matrix and cylinder to the action of aheated fluid-pressure; fourth, cooling said matrix and cylinder, andseparating the one from the other, substantially as described.

3. The improvement in the art of making phonographic sound recordscomposed of celluloid and similar pyroxylin compounds, which consists inthe following steps: first, placing a celluloid cylinder within a matrixhaving a sound-record on the interior surface thereof; second, placingsaid matrix and cylinder Within a collapsible chamber, and exhaustingthe air from said chamber; third, heating said jacketed matrix andcylinder; fourth, subjecting said heated jacketed matrix and cylinder topressure; fifth, cooling said matrix and cylinder, and separating theone from the other, substantially as described.

4. The improvement in the art of making phonographic sound recordscomposed of celluloid and similar pyroxylin compounds, which consists inthe following steps: first, placing a celluloid cylinder within a matrixhaving a sound-record on the interior surface thereof; second, placingsaid matrix and cylinder within a collapsible chamber, and exhaustingthe air from said chamber; third, heating said jacketed matrix andcylinder; fourth, subjecting said jacketed matrix and cylinder tofluid-pressure; fifth, cooling said matrix and cylinder, and separatingthe one from the other, substantially as described.

5. The improvement in the art of making phonographic sound recordscomposed of celluloid and similar pyroxylin compounds, which consists inthe following steps: first, softening the surface of a celluloidcylinder with a solvent, and placing it Within a matrix having asound-record on the interior surface thereof; second, placing saidmatrix and cylinder within a collapsible chamber, and exhausting the airfrom said chamber; third, subjecting said jacketed matrix and cylinderto heat and pressure; fourth, cooling said matrix and cylinder, andseparating the one from the other, substantially as described.

6. The improvement in the art of making phonographic sound recordscomposed of celluloid and similar pyroxylin compounds, which consists inthe following steps: first, softening the surface of a celluloidcylinder with a solvent, and placingit within a matrix havingasound-record on the interior surface thereof; second, placing saidmatrix and cylinder within a collapsible chamber, and exhausting the airfrom said chamber; third, subjecting said jacketed matrix and cylinderto the action of a heated fluid-pressure; fourth, cooling said matrixand cylinder, and separating the one from the other,

substantially as described.

7. The improvement in the art of making phonographic sound recordscomposed of celluloid and similar pyroxylin compounds, which consists inthe following steps:

first, softening the surface of a celluloid cylinder with a solvent, andplacing it within a matrix having a sound-record on the interior surfacethereof; second, placing said matrix and cylinder within a collapsiblechamber and exhausting the air from said chamber; third, heating saidjacketed matrix and cylinder; fourth, subjecting said heated jacketedmatrix and cylinder to pressure; fifth, cooling said matrix andcylinder, and separating the one from the other, substantially asdescribed. 4

- 8. The improvement in the art of making MARSHALL O. LEFFERTS.

In presence of J. R. HALSEY, A. TISGHLER.

